2.S885/2.S985: Exploring Sustainability at Different Scales

Fall | Undergraduate/Graduate | 12 Units | Prereq: None

We explore the challenge of sustainable development from engineering analysis to multidisciplinary frameworks that include the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals. Topics include: the engineering analysis of processes, factories, universities, including MIT, renewable energy, recycling, lifecycle analysis, exergy analysis, energy efficiency and rebound, economic development, human behavior and inequality, ethics and politics, and more. Invited guests will provide expertise in key topics and class projects will provide the opportunity for you to explore a topic of your choice. The class is aimed at graduate students and advanced undergraduates.

Timothy Gutowski, Mechanical Engineering, and Julie Newman, Director of MITOS and DUSP (guest speaker)

Two texts are used: Materials and the Environment by Michael Ashby, and Energy – A Beginners Guide, Vaclav Smil, plus various readings.